Storing fabric
05-31-2015, 04:59 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New England
Posts: 865
I have faced this very situation, except for years, not months. My fabric is now stored in an unheated, unventilated, non A/C shed in my back yard. What works beautifully is this:
I got a bunch of banker's boxes from Staples, all the same size. I laid each clean, empty box on it's smaller end (the back or front) and filled it by folding the fabric in such a way that I could see the folds easily by taking the top off. At a glance, I knew what was there. I also divided it according to color on the color wheel (green, blue-green, blue, etc.) since that is how I expect to retrieve it - by looking for a particular color. Once each box was filled, I labeled it on the end and also made an index card label. I put a white plastic 33-gallon kitchen trash bag over each box and used the ties on the bag to close the end tightly. I attached the index card to the outside of the bag. I also have some fabric, especially wool, in airtight plastic bins. Hubby built wooden shelves along the sides of the shed. I labeled these shelves according to color on the color chart, making it very easy to find what I need.
The fabric is still out there after five years and there has been ZERO damage of any kind. No bugs, no rotting, no damage. Even in tough winters (the wooden shed does not leak) and humid summers, this fabric, thread, and other supplies have been fine.
Cricket
I got a bunch of banker's boxes from Staples, all the same size. I laid each clean, empty box on it's smaller end (the back or front) and filled it by folding the fabric in such a way that I could see the folds easily by taking the top off. At a glance, I knew what was there. I also divided it according to color on the color wheel (green, blue-green, blue, etc.) since that is how I expect to retrieve it - by looking for a particular color. Once each box was filled, I labeled it on the end and also made an index card label. I put a white plastic 33-gallon kitchen trash bag over each box and used the ties on the bag to close the end tightly. I attached the index card to the outside of the bag. I also have some fabric, especially wool, in airtight plastic bins. Hubby built wooden shelves along the sides of the shed. I labeled these shelves according to color on the color chart, making it very easy to find what I need.
The fabric is still out there after five years and there has been ZERO damage of any kind. No bugs, no rotting, no damage. Even in tough winters (the wooden shed does not leak) and humid summers, this fabric, thread, and other supplies have been fine.
Cricket
Last edited by cricket_iscute; 05-31-2015 at 05:01 PM.
05-31-2015, 07:29 PM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,503
I have faced this very situation, except for years, not months. My fabric is now stored in an unheated, unventilated, non A/C shed in my back yard. What works beautifully is this:
I got a bunch of banker's boxes from Staples, all the same size. I laid each clean, empty box on it's smaller end (the back or front) and filled it by folding the fabric in such a way that I could see the folds easily by taking the top off. At a glance, I knew what was there. I also divided it according to color on the color wheel (green, blue-green, blue, etc.) since that is how I expect to retrieve it - by looking for a particular color. Once each box was filled, I labeled it on the end and also made an index card label. I put a white plastic 33-gallon kitchen trash bag over each box and used the ties on the bag to close the end tightly. I attached the index card to the outside of the bag. I also have some fabric, especially wool, in airtight plastic bins. Hubby built wooden shelves along the sides of the shed. I labeled these shelves according to color on the color chart, making it very easy to find what I need.
The fabric is still out there after five years and there has been ZERO damage of any kind. No bugs, no rotting, no damage. Even in tough winters (the wooden shed does not leak) and humid summers, this fabric, thread, and other supplies have been fine.
Cricket
I got a bunch of banker's boxes from Staples, all the same size. I laid each clean, empty box on it's smaller end (the back or front) and filled it by folding the fabric in such a way that I could see the folds easily by taking the top off. At a glance, I knew what was there. I also divided it according to color on the color wheel (green, blue-green, blue, etc.) since that is how I expect to retrieve it - by looking for a particular color. Once each box was filled, I labeled it on the end and also made an index card label. I put a white plastic 33-gallon kitchen trash bag over each box and used the ties on the bag to close the end tightly. I attached the index card to the outside of the bag. I also have some fabric, especially wool, in airtight plastic bins. Hubby built wooden shelves along the sides of the shed. I labeled these shelves according to color on the color chart, making it very easy to find what I need.
The fabric is still out there after five years and there has been ZERO damage of any kind. No bugs, no rotting, no damage. Even in tough winters (the wooden shed does not leak) and humid summers, this fabric, thread, and other supplies have been fine.
Cricket
06-01-2015, 04:41 AM
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 155
I used non-transparent plastic totes to store my fabrics and arts stuff in a storage for over a year when we moved 20 years ago. I made sure there were no pins or any metallic parts on the fabrics, and I added some fabric softener tissues within the boxes (do not place the fabric softener directly on the fabric, rather wrap it first on a paper towel and store it on the sides). I still have have of these fabrics in my sewing room and they still look as good as new.
06-01-2015, 06:42 AM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,876
My first thought was "oh dear", then!!!! Fabrics are stored in warehouses all the time. They should be fine. Not something I would worry too much about. What are your alternatives?? If none, just do it, move on, worry about it when you take it out!
06-01-2015, 07:02 AM
#25
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
If you are going to have access to this non-air-controlled unit on a regular basis, You can get moisture control tubs at dollar discount stores. very inexpensive. My husband has a small bag of charcoal briquettes open in his outdoor shed all the time for that purpose alone. It gets hot an humid and very little rust on his machines. If you choose to use the tubs, you will be able to see the difference. As far as rodents and bugs any critters I would set traps or preventive measures/repellants.
I will probably be moving in the next few months so will probably need to store fabric in a non heated/ non air conditioned storage unit for up to a year. With summer temps here getting into the triple digits, I'm concerned about how to store the fabric safely. I have a plethora of plastic tubs, and they do well for fabric storage in my temperature controlled house, but I wonder if sealed tubs would attract moisture in a storage unit? Cardboard boxes are my other option, but then I'm concerned about creepy crawlies getting in.
A temperature controlled storage unit is not an option at present. Any and all suggestions for storage ideas are welcome. Thanks.
A temperature controlled storage unit is not an option at present. Any and all suggestions for storage ideas are welcome. Thanks.
06-05-2015, 03:10 PM
#26
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 38
Many years ago, I bought some dry storage barrels. They're about 4 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter, with a metal bottom and metal top that has a slide lock. These are awesome and I wish I'd bought more of them. I've stored yarn and fabric in them for 10+ years in the garage in the heat of Southern California and when I take stuff out it's as good as when it went in.
The downside is it's difficult to find anything - you pretty much have to empty the barrel. OTOH, I use them for long-term storage. My dream would be to have a place in the house to store yarn and fabric so I can actually SEE what I have. So far, it's still a dream.
The downside is it's difficult to find anything - you pretty much have to empty the barrel. OTOH, I use them for long-term storage. My dream would be to have a place in the house to store yarn and fabric so I can actually SEE what I have. So far, it's still a dream.
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